At Southcoast Health, we’re dedicated to providing care for women in our community. We are proud to introduce the Southcoast Menopause & Wellness Program – the region’s first program dedicated to comprehensive, individualized care for women in their midlife and menopausal health transition.
The goal of our specialized program is to help you better understand your health during these times and to help medically manage midlife and menopausal conditions to improve your quality of life. For anyone experiencing menopausal symptoms, you can contact your OB/GYN provider or call 508-973-2208 to join our menopause program.
Menopause is a normal and natural event; all women go through it. For some it is a time where significant bothersome symptoms arise leading to a decreased quality of life. Menopause commonly occurs between ages 45-55 with an average age of 51 in the US. Menopause is complete when menstrual periods have stopped for 1 full year. At Southcoast Health, we are here to listen to and help guide you through this transition.
Menopause occurs in three gradual stages:
| Perimenopause | Perimenopause takes place a few years before menopause begins. At this time, the ovaries have started to make less of the hormone estrogen, with estrogen levels dropping quickly in the last one to two years of this stage. Perimenopause ends when menopause begins, during the time when the ovaries stop releasing any eggs. At this point, many women start to experience symptoms. |
| Menopausa | Menopause officially begins when a year has passed since a woman’s last menstrual period. During this stage, the ovaries are not releasing any eggs and have dramatically decreased estrogen levels. The average age at which menopause begins is 51. |
| Postmenopause | The postmenopause stage begins after 12 months without a period and continues through the rest of your life. During this time, symptoms start to decrease for most women. Certain health risks can arise as women get older and women should continue to see their health care provider regularly. |
Not every woman experiences the same symptoms – they can differ from woman to woman. But these signs and symptoms can help determine if menopause is approaching.
There is no cure for menopause, as it is a natural part of aging in women. But there are different treatment options to help with symptoms that may be disruptive to your quality of life. One of those options is hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for those who are experiencing moderate to severe symptoms. This involves estrogen therapy, which comes in different forms such as a pill, patch, vaginal ring, or gel. However, although it is effective, HRT may not be for everyone, and should be discussed with your doctor.
Other strategies that can help you manage your menopause symptoms include the following:
Let our well-trained staff of OB/GYNs at Southcoast Health help you navigate your menopausal years with ease and confidence. Southcoast Health provides care and treatment for women in menopause in North Dartmouth and the surrounding areas of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Contact us today and find an OB/GYN near you or call 508-973-2208 to join our menopause program.
Southcoast Health é um sistema de saúde sem fins lucrativos, caritativo e baseado na comunidade, com múltiplos pontos de acesso, que oferece uma continuidade integrada de serviços de saúde em todo o sudeste de Massachusetts e Rhode Island.
